Some of my memories of Lewis… read at his memorial 19/10/2021 💙
Lew….
I have been thinking about you over the past weeks looking at photos, remembering you, over many years and trying to put together the times that i spent with you and those that stood out and made me smile, there are so many Lew. too many to say here today but that are carried with me always.
i first met you when you were 6 months old, the cutest and i mean the cutest little baby. Blondest of hair which would turn into a bundle of curls and the bluest of eyes… you were adorable.
I was there for your first steps, probably for your first word… maybe it was aunty chaCha, which is what you called me when you were little… but it probably wasnt :) It was probably something much more special like mama.
You were with me on my 30th birthday ! You wouldn’t remember it as you’re only 10 months old but we had a trip downtown Chicago to a restaurant I can’t remember the name of, but Kerry and Sophie would know, and whilst we were there we were surprised by a visit by Muhammad Ali, no not for my birthday or to meet our gorgeous boy he was coincidentally a special guest on that day as he was donating some boxing gloves or something to the restaurant. It made it even more special as your Grandad Tom was a huge fan.
We spent many holidays together Lew, for years I would come and visit you and Kerry in Chicago … remember the Cubs game we went to see… the longest game ever , we got quite bored but such fun with you. Whatever we were doing our gorgeous boy came with us out for dinner, margaritas at Chillis… your favourite place.
You came to England to see your English family and nanma and grandad Tom loved every visit and the many times you visited me in London.
And remember the France trip when we drove to visit Betty in the South of France for Little Taras baptism. I have to say I’ve never known a kid who would endure waking up at 3am for a 10+ hour drive, listening to 80’s music at full blast (and with mum and aunty singing at top of their voices too) without any complaints at all. Seriously Lew unless ive just forgotten some bits but you were THE best kid and THE best company!
You came to visit Rob and me in Miami quite a few times too. Remember the Miami sea aquarium? We went there one time And sat at the back / top seats furthest away from the pool. But when you saw how the orca splashed the water over the audience… how you laughed and laughed…. We went back again the next day and the day after that and the day after that… of course we then had to sit at the front to get splashed. We got very wet.
Another memory from miami was Rob giving you lessons on how to be a drunk in England…. We were sitting around the table with you pretending to drink our beer and you and rob practicing “and another thing” we still talk about that and laugh :)
I loved all our times spent together Lew. And although there were years when we didn’t see you as much you always held a special place in out hearts… our handsome American nephew and jimmy n albie just loved their Cool American big boy cousin. They really did.
Having not seen you for a number of years Im so glad that i saw you not too long before your accident. In 2017 when i visited and met you again as a gorgeous 24 year old. we had some lovely chats and even though you had been through some difficult times you were so ready to come out the other end, you were trying to move forward and were looking forward to the times ahead. I wish more than anything that you could have lived your dreams.
I will always remember the trip to the airport with you and Dexi in the back of the car… hearing you laugh at little Dexi and then us having our photo taken at the airport … a simple but special moment will stay with me always.
Lewis, Lew, Louis, Lew Lew, Luigi , always a big smile and a big heart… rest in peace my darling…. you will always be your mums … and our “Starboy” 💙
Chut
10th February 2022